October 31, 2024
Blackhawks

Toews’ goal in OT lifts Hawks to victory

By BRENT W
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Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews scores the winning goal past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Francois Beauchemin in overtime Thursday in Denver. Chicago won, 4-3. (AP photo)

DENVER – Jonathan Toews scored a power-play goal at 3:29 of overtime, Patrick Kane extended his NHL points lead with a goal and two assists and the Blackhawks beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 on Thursday night.

Artem Anisimov and Andrew Desjardins also scored for the Hawks, which snapped a four-game losing streak to Colorado. Scott Darling, meanwhile, filled in for starter Corey Crawford and had 26 saves.

Colorado erased a 3-1 deficit as Erik Johnson tied the game with less than 5 minutes remaining in regulation.

Toews then answered on a man advantage after the Avalanche were called for too many players on the ice.

Carl Soderberg and Cody McLeod scored for Colorado. Semyon Varlamov had 39 saves for Colorado and suffered his first loss in nine consecutive decisions against the Hawks.

Before Toews’ game-winner, Kane provided much of the spark. He ended 2015 with 56 points in 39 games.

On Thursday against the Avalanche, the same team that ended his 26-game point streak earlier in the month, he had two assists, including on Toews’ goal. He also finished a 2-on-1 power-play chance early in the second to extend the lead to 3-1.

The Hawks (22-13-4) are now 22-8-4 when Kane gets a point and 0-5-0 when he doesn’t.

Anisimov was the first Chicago player to beat Varlamov this season. The Colorado netminder had 29 saves in a 3-0 win over the Blackhawks on Dec. 15 and nine stops on Thursday before Anisimov tied the game at 1-1 with 1:28 left in the first period.

Desjardins and Kane followed suit and scored in the first 4:20 of the second period to extend the lead to 3-1.

Soderberg had a power play goal at 4:04 of the first period for the Avs, who scored first for the 11th consecutive game. McLeod cut the lead 3-2 in the second period with his first goal since Nov. 23.

Notes: Jarome Iginla didn’t score on Thursday and remained at 599 goals for his NHL career. ... Darling made only his second start of the month. ... The Avs have scored first in 26 of 38 games this season, the most in the league.